RAE BROYLES U.S. artist Rae Boyles studied at American Institute of Art in Chicago, IL and Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. In the 1980’s and 90’s Rae had vibrant career as a creative director. In 2001 Rae became a full-time painter and mixed media artist. She continued her studies at Moulin de Perot in Southern France, Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada and Fine Arts Workshop in Atlanta. Rae began teaching encaustic painting at Fine Arts Workshop in Atlanta in 2010 and has also been invited to teach at Red Deer College. Rae’s works across a variety of creative disciplines. Although often abstract, she incorporates multiple mediums including, painting, photography, video, poetry and choreography. Her work has been shown in prestigious galleries in the US and was accepted as one of 20 National Artists in the highly respected A.I.R. Gallery in New York. Rae’s recognitions include Platform Artist of the Year Finalist with RMG, which hosts Spectrum Miami and Art Expo New York, Mixed Media Artist of the Year at the ADC Awards in Cincinnati, OH, The Bronze Award for Painting Forward, Best in Show at JF Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL, and multiple merit awards in National Shows including the Valdosta National, Grosse Pointe Art Center, MI and the APS National Show at Chastain in Atlanta with printmaking work. Rae lives in Roswell, GA and owns Fountainhead Art Space, a community-based art program to mentor emerging artists. Statement: “My work reflects my open-minded and inquisitive spirit of the metaphysical. It has an ethereal quality to it but I also incorporate personal marks, poems, imagery and textures and to enhance the calm underpaintings. I use a spontaneous yet thoughtful approach to painting which creates unexpected variations and surprises and invites my viewers to experience the nature of my painting process. I rely on a shamanistic approach stemming from my beliefs that I am but a vessel trough which creativity flows; putting down on the canvas the images that already exist in the universe. Often my initial my intent is to express a peacefulness or a universal pain that presents itself needing to be mourned. And sometimes paint alone is not sufficient to relay these feelings completely and it is then that I incorporate video, music, choreography and/or poetry. My Influences are many; from the free form “Sami Yoik” singing of my Norwegian Indigenous ancestors to abstract poets such as Hart Crane, H.D. Hilda Doolittle and James Joyce’s (Finnegan’s wake). Artists like Jean Cocteau who remained free from traditional limitations of a specific medium are of particular interest to me as is the artistry of Cirque Du Soliel. This combination of not just music and dance but language, poetry and culture; colliding to reflect us all as one universal creation inspires me to connect multi-cultural expressions into one unique work, creating a unique visceral experience.